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(No Model.) I

J. E. C. HILL. LOCK BOX FOR SAFES.

No. 516,650. Patented Mar. 20, 1894. I

m: NAYIONAL umoemwmns company,

WASHINGTGN. u. c.

lrrnn -TATES PATENT 10; Felon.

JONATHAN E. O. HILL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO ELIZABETH HILL, OFSAME'PLAOE.

LOCK-BOX FOR SAFES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,650, dated March20, 1894.

Application filed December Z1892. Serial No. 454,324- (No model.)

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of boxes orcasings which contain the lockand bolt-m echanism of such,

looks as are used ineonnection with fireand burglar-proof safes andsimilar receptacles employed-for security-and safedeposit purposes. Onemode of gaining-access to the interior of such locks for the purpose ofmanipulating them or the bolts, or 'for introducing explosives, has beenhad through an opening obtained by pulling out forcibly thetumblerspindle which carries also the dial-plate, or the handle-spindlewhere such is used.

The primary object of my invention is to prevent access in this mannerby closing an tomatically such opening, the closing being made dependenton the removal of either one or the two spindles and occurringsimultaneously with such removal.

Another part of my invention relates to the construction of the lock-boxitself and to the means whereby it is secured to, the door which meansalso incidentally serve to stiffen and brace such door at a point whereit is the weakest and most severely used.

'In the following specification and particivlarly pointed out in theclaims,'is founda full description of my invention, its operation,

parts and construction, the latter being also illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- I Figure l'is an interior front view ofa safedoorcontaining my improved lock-box or casing with the ordinarylock-tumblers, throwbar, bolts, &c., in their customary positions,-

the inside door-plate being removed for purposes of the view. Fig. 2, isa front View of the lock-box itself as it appears when dotaehed, or whenthe front plate of the door is removed, the bolts and other adjuncts ofthe,

lock proper being also dispensed with. Fig. 3, is a horizontal sectiontaken through the safe-door, while, Fig. 4, is a vertical sectionthereof. Fig. 5, is a horizontal section taken I juncts.

through the lock-box alone, thus showing more clearly its construction,in connection with the attaching-plate, tubular bearing for the handleand bolt spindles, the whole being integral and cast in one piece, theadvantages of which will hereinafter be set forth.

The letter A, represents the front plate of the safe-door; B, theordinary lock-tumblers,

operated by the usual spindleO, which also carries dial D. 1 v 7 E, isthe ordinary handle and spindle which operates the throw-barF, throughtheinstrumentality of dog G, which is, in connection with said spindleandbar, as usual, and as shown in the drawings. v S, is the slot workingon pinp, by means of which the movement back and forth of the 1 bar islimited.

I, is. the vertical 'rod which bolts 1) b.

The sectional dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4 represent the usual cementwhich surrounds the parts and occupies other vacant spaces in thesafe-door to give it strength and fire-proof qualities. H

H, composes the lock-box pro'perin which as beforestated, is the boltmechanism, and

the lock-tumblers with their respe'ctive ada supplementary box, 'orhousing J, from 'whichextendin the direction of the front, or

outer side of the door tubes 1 and 2 through which .pass thelock-spindle and handle-spin dles which passes through the interior of 0housing J, rests normally a drop-guard K,

consisting preferably of a steel-plate. As to thickness it should fillthe interior width of the housingand as to height it must be so highasto close the openingleft by the spindles should either one of them, orthe two have been withdrawn and thereby permitted the drop-guard to beprecipitated to the bottom of its housing. The object of this dropguardis to close the opening which the spin- 10o .dles would otherwise leaveshould'they be withd rawn for the purpose of gainingaccess supports the7c Upon the verticalfront-Wall of the '80 lock-box and outside of thelatter is formed to the interior with a view to manipulate the lock orbolts, or introduce explosives. It will thus be seen that access to theinterior through the spindle-passages is most efit'ectivelybarred 1n avery simple manner and by an inexpensive construction. To the ends ofsaid tubes is integrally connected a plate U, by which.

the lock-box, and its adjuncts going to make up the whole is attached byrivets to the rear s1de of front plate A. The intervening space betweenthe plate U, and the front of the lock box is filled with cement, thetubes being also necessarily surrounded. The advantage of having thelock-casing, the said plate housing J, the said spindle tubes andattachlug-plate cast integrally and secured as they are, and having thelock-casing extend well toward the rear of the door instead of being 1nproximity to the front, as in most cases, and having the interveningspaces and said parts packed with cement, will be apparent, for itprotects the said parts more efticaciously from fire, and also fromnefarious designs, for strength and durability is thereby added. Thisplate U also stiftens the front plate A at a point where it is theweakest and most severely used.

In Fig. 2, I designate spindle apertures in the attaching plate by Figs.5, and 6. The rivet holes in same for attachment to plate A, Idenominate as 7, S. The drop-guard is also applicablewhere only onespindle is used as is the case in many safes where the tumblerspindlealso serves as a handle-spindle.

What I claim, therefore, as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the tumbleror handlespindle of a lock as heredescribed, and

with the box or housing for the latter, containing the spindle-ways adrop-guard resting normally on such spindles and supported thereby andadapted to drop to a position to close the otherwise open spindle-ways,when one or the two of such spindles are withdrawn therefrom.

2. In combination with the tumbleror handle-spindle and the box, orhousing of a look as here described, a supplementary housing J solocated as to be penetrated by such spindles, a drop -guard normallysupported by them and occupying that part of housing J which is abovethe spindles and adapted to drop to a position to close the opening leftwhen one or the two of such spindles are withdrawn.

3. In combination with a case or box for looks as here described, ahousing formed by an extension of parts of said box, such housing solocated as tobe penetrated by the tumbleror handle-spindle, or both, anda dropguard occupying the interior of this housing above the spindlesand normally supported thereby and adapted to drop to a position toclose the opening when one or the two of such spindles are withdrawn.

4. A case or box for looks of the kind as here described, havingforwardly extending spindle-tubes and a plate U integrally connected tothem, such plate adapted to receive rivets or screws and furnishing abroad and stiff base of connection whereby the whole lock-box is securedto the front plate.

JONATHAN E. O. HILL.

\Vitnesses:

W. ELLWooD WYNNE, J ERE. F. TWOHIG.

